Michigan
University has voted no affirmative action.Affirmative action was adopted for political reasons when black people in particular were heavily disadvantaged educationally, economically and politically. Now blacks are no longer in the same situation. There are success stories. Blacks have got a place in key and sensitive posts. Collin Powell and Condoleezza Rice are examples of black success stories. They reached their positions through hard work and not through favouritism although they may have benefited from affirmative action in the first place.
Minorities- black, Hispanic or Red Indians etc - will have to consider that achievements should be based on merits and not on political favouritism. As education at school prior to university isn't based on selection, it is through it that all students can compete for higher education.
Filling universities through affirmative action can lead to mediocrity in academic achievement and responsibility after getting a job as some of those who graduate may be just fairly good but not good enough to assume jobs needing creativity and bold initiative.
This problem has been an issue not in the USA, but also in countries whose population is divided on tribal and sect lines. In India, the government has introduced a bill in parliament to force private universities admit fixed numbers of students from traditionally disadvantaged low castes and tribes. The government wants to amend the constitution which already obliges state-supported colleges reserve places for the country's poorest communities. The introduction of this bill didn’t go without controversy. But among those opposed to this move are some private colleges saying they fear a drop in standards if the law is changed.
One last point, affirmative action still leaves students on the margin from all races because it is based on racial selection and it can drop a person from the majority racial community because a person from the minority took his place despite his being better academically.
2 comments:
Not only is there not a "Michigan University" (the correct name is "University of Michigan"), but the vote to eliminate affirmative action was the result of a statewide ballot proposal adopted by Michigan voters -- not at all a decision made by the University. In fact, the President of the University of Michigan, Mary Sue Coleman, has strenuously argued against passage of the ballot proposal, has pledged to continue diversity efforts, and is currently exploring legal challenges to the statewide vote.
Anonymous,
Thank you for the clarification.
It remains up to to Michigan voters to decide if Affirmative Action is outdated as it remains the same for University of Michigan to deecide as an educational corps which is more knowledgeable, out of experience,about what can be good for everyone's education.
But personally, I see admittance to any university should be based on merits. Equal education prior to university entrance should be given more importance.
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